The Ultimate fighter has been a lightning rod when it comes to bringing viewers and attention to the world of MMA. The Season 1 Finale Forrest Griffin Vs. Stephen Bonnar was the first MMA bout to ever air on live TV for free at the time. You can now catch all the action on FX. Most recently it was announced that The Ultimate Fighter 17 would be coached by two big names in MMA, Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen.

The Ultimate Fighter was originally picked up by Spike, but moved to FOX's FX after mammoth deal with UFC. The Ultimate Fighter hasn't been pumping out the big names it once was such as Season 1 with Forest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Mike Swick, and Diego Sanchez, and Season 10 with Brendan Schaub,Roy Nelson, and Matt Mitrione. The Ultimate Fighter ratings have dropped in the recent seasons, in the new season The Ultimate Fighter 17 has two star MMA fighters cast as the coaches, Jon Jones World Light Heavyweight Champion and former Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen. The question is can the infusion of these two powerhouse names in MMA administer a much needed adrenaline shot to the heart of the downward spiraling series. Season 16 Episode 4 had ratings of 1.1 million viewers mostly because it piggy-backed off UFC on FX 5: Browne Vs. "Bigfoot.” The Ultimate Fighter 16 Episode5 dropped to 624,000 in the viewer ratings. Dana White was quoted as saying for the finale coach's fight, "We're talkin about New Jersey.” The show will be filmed in Las Vegas. Jones shouldn't worry about Chael's ground game, but he expects to pummel Sonnen standing up or on the ground. Jones says he loves to wrestle so with this advantage coupled with Sonnen's weak stand up game Jones is very confident as well as his loyal fan base. Chael Sonnen not considering Jones a worthy holder of thelight heavyweight title expects a good fight, but we should expect nothing less from Sonnen, "He (Jon Jones) hasn't beat anyone till he beats me,” "Listen he (Jones) needs me, and I am the man, and I'm the man because I say I'm the man,” he said. Jones' recent injury has put him on the sidelines temporarily at least until April. There will certainly be a plethora of trash talking, as both fighters try to get under each other's skin as well as hurl insults rapid-fire. Many fans are angry that Chael is getting an instant title shot, but as every other top name was offered the fight against Jones and no one accepted he most certainly will. Chael is getting back to back title shots in two different weight divisions in reference to his recent bout with World Heavyweight champion Anderson Silva.

In conclusion The Ultimate Fight has been an instrumental factor in the effort to bring professional mixed-martial arts into the world's spotlight. No matter what you think about Chael Sonnen, Jon Jones, or Dana White they are shoving MMA whole-heartedly in your face and the Jones Sonnen bout will be sure to rake in record profits.

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